It took precisely 13 minutes, 44 seconds into the first period for Detroit Lakes to realize the Minnesota Class A state girls tournament is at a whole different level of hockey -- especially when playing against the two-time defending champion.
That was time of the third goal by No. 2 seeded Warroad, which rolled past Detroit Lakes 13-1 on Wednesday in the quarterfinal round of the state tournament at the Xcel Energy Center.
Warroad also went on a record-setting scoring barrage during the game.
The second-seeded Warriors (23-4-1) led 2-0 before the Lakers (12-16) even had a shot on goal, and the pressure only expanded from there. Warroad led 4-0 after one period.
Warroad set girls' hockey tournament records for goals in a game, goals in a period (nine in the second) and finished with a 50-14 edge in shots on goal.
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The 14 combined goals in one game is also a tournament record.
"In between those first two goals and the next two, we were really moving the puck well and putting a lot of shots on net, which were not going in," said Warroad forward Sierra Hanowski, who finished with two goals and three assists. "But when we scored those two at the end of the period, it gave us plenty of momentum for the second period."
Hannah Johnston put the Warriors (23-4-1) on the board 2:13 into the game on a shot from the right slot, with assists by junior defender Courtney Bethune and Hanowski.
The Warriors continued to maintain possession of the puck and went up 2-0 on the first of two back-to-back goals by junior forward Kayla Gardner, who finished with a hat trick and two assists.
The Lakers were able to play some tighter defense the next eight minutes, but Gardner's second goal 13:44 into the game, started pounding severe cracks in the Detroit Lakes' defense.
"We came into the game just worrying about ourselves and to play the right way," said Warroad coach David Marvin. "We just concentrated on getting that first win and staying out of the Ridder (the arena for consolation games)."
Junior forward Lisa Marvin added another goal just 34 seconds later and the rout was just getting started.
"There were numerous times where we made a bad play and Warroad capitalized on it," said Detroit Lakes coach Gretchen Norby. "We made similar mistakes like that during the season and got away with them. Against a team like Warroad, you usually don't."
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The Lakers were not able to record their first shot on net until the 6:42 mark in the first period and finished with just two, compared to Warroad's 16.
"It was frustrating," said Detroit Lakes' Brianna Seebold, who is the team's all-time leading scorer. "Warroad played some tight defense and we couldn't generate any offense. They kept us outside and they would go down and score, because we were caught down low."
Reality set in early for the Lakers, as Norby knew her team needed to stay focused for their consolation game today.
"We knew what Warroad was about," Norby said. "After the first period, we knew were playing for tomorrow. It's heart-breaking giving up 13 goals, but you need to learn how to bounce back."
In the second period, Warroad outshot Detroit Lakes 24-6.
"We were getting every bounce, every screen, every tip, it just seemed like everything was going in," Hanowski said.
For the Warriors, getting out of the third period healthy was the main goal.
"You work on offending as least amount of people as possible and get the period done with, because it's not fun for anyone," Marvin said.
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Warroad's Dayton Hilgert had eight saves and Danielle Knott five.
With a day off to prepare for the semifinals, Marvin said his team's experience will be an advantage.
"We'll have a good skate-in (today)," the Warroad coach said. "We can rely on good experience to prepare, since they have been here before."
The Warriors will play South St. Paul (21-7-0) in semifinals Friday at 11 a.m.
